The operations management function
Key Knowledge
- the relationship between operations management and business objectives
- key elements of an operations system: inputs, processes and outputs
- characteristics of operations management within both manufacturing and service businesses
- strategies to improve the ef ciency and effectiveness of operations related to technological developments, including the use of automated production lines, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing techniques and website development
- strategies to improve the ef ciency and effectiveness of operations related to materials, including forecasting, master production schedule, materials requirement planning and Just In Time
- strategies to improve the ef ciency and effectiveness of operations related to quality, including quality control, quality assurance and Total Quality Management
- strategies to improve the ef ciency and effectiveness of operations through waste minimisation in the production process, including the principles of lean management
- corporate social responsibility considerations in an operations system, including the environmental sustainability of inputs and the amount of waste generated from processes and production of outputs
- global considerations in operations management, including global sourcing of inputs, overseas manufacture, global outsourcing and an overview of supply chain management.